Potential SUNY student, need help with Excelsior, picking a college without too much debt

Some of the Catholic schools have a list of additional aid available from outside sources. It’s not guaranteed, and usually small amounts, but $2000 from the Knights of Columbus or an alum helps. Sometimes there are talent scholarships. And yes, you’ll have to do it every year.

Sometime you just have to take a chance. My daughter had 2 scholarships that had a minimum gpa to retain and she had an athletic scholarship that she had to continue to play to receive. There is no way we could have afforded the school without all those funds. She knew she’d have to transfer if she didn’t keep the scholarships. For us, it was worth the risk and it worked out. I do know people who lost their scholarships and they either had to pay OOP for those cost or transfer.